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The Centre for AI Safety

The Centre for AI Safety (CAIS) is a groundbreaking new research centre led by a cross-faculty team, ensuring artificial intelligence systems operate safely, ethically and reliably across all sectors of society.

Explore our research

Leading the global response to AI safety

CAIS is Newcastle University’s bold response to the rapid advancement of AI technology. 

Unlike existing data science and cybersecurity initiatives, this new centre focuses specifically on designing autonomous decision-making systems that operate safely in real-world environments.

CAIS operates with a particular focus on high-stakes domains, like healthcare, autonomous vehicles, smart manufacturing and energy security.

The establishment of the Centre for AI Safety at Newcastle is a bold step toward addressing critical challenges. It will enhance research excellence and ensure AI benefits are realised safely, ethically, and equitably, nationally and globally.

Professor Rajiv Ranjan, Director of the National Edge AI Hub

Our positioning

Professor Rajiv Ranjan, Director of the National Edge AI Hub and a globally recognised leader in AI safety and resilience, is uniquely positioned to lead CAIS. 

His extensive expertise in managing large-scale, multidisciplinary projects ensures the Centre’s goals align with national and international AI safety priorities. Professor Ranjan will provide strategic leadership critical to securing high-impact collaborations, driving research excellence and positioning Newcastle University at the forefront of AI safety innovation.

CAIS brings together expertise from across the University's three faculties, ensuring AI safety research addresses technical, ethical, medical and social dimensions simultaneously. 

CAIS has secured significant external support, including a partnership with Lenovo to establish a Joint National AI Safety Lab with a minimum investment of £200,000, and collaboration with Singapore Design University. 

Through synergies with the National Edge AI Hub, the Centre will access £2.5 million in flexible funding and a national collaboration network of 14 universities and 60 industry partners.

Our workstreams

The Newcastle Centre for AI Safety will deliver impact through seven dynamic work packages (WPs):

  1. Public engagement, education and workforce development

Foster societal understanding of AI safety and prepare the next generation of leaders in safe AI development.

  1. Interdisciplinary grant applications and funding

Facilitate collaborative research proposals to secure funding from UKRI, the European Commission, and industry partners, aligning with AI safety goals.

  1. Impact and policy influence evaluation

Develop frameworks to measure AI safety outcomes and contribute to policymaking at national and international levels.

  1. Scientific excellence in AI Safety for critical systems

Develop robust, scalable, and safe AI systems for critical applications across healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety.

  1. Ethical AI and socio-technical governance

Address fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethical decision-making in AI systems, ensuring alignment with societal values.

  1. AI in decision-making for sustainable development

Leverage AI for sustainable and safe societal development, addressing challenges like climate change, energy use, and resource management.

  1. Human-centric AI and interaction design

Focus on designing AI systems that prioritise human safety, well-being, and ease of use.

These WPs will focus on tackling:

  • public engagement
  • capacity building (grant acquisition)
  • impact monitoring
  • cutting-edge research in algorithmic robustness
  • real-time AI safety, ethical and regulatory frameworks
  • human-AI collaboration

This interdisciplinary framework will inform a bold, comprehensive approach to advancing AI safety.

The proposed work-packages (WPs) and sub-themes will encourage interdisciplinary research, engagement and impact across the three faculties: SAgE, FMS, and HaSS.

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE)

The Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering (SAgE) is one of the largest science and engineering faculties in the UK.

The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS)

The Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS) is one of the UK’s largest and most successful centres for research-led medical education, with a world-class reputation.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS)

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) has a global reputation as a centre for research, education and engagement across the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences.

Get involved

CAIS is grounded in cross-university partnership and aims to:

  • significantly enhance Newcastle University's research excellence, impact and reputation
  • foster a dynamic research culture
  • stimulate new learning initiatives and partnerships
  • leverage existing AI systems and application strengths

By nurturing early career researchers and promoting cross-faculty research, CAIS will support the University in developing the next generation of research leaders.

CAIS is inclusive and open to colleagues from across various career stages, disciplines and job families. If you are interested in finding out more, please email Gaurav.kaushik@newcastle.ac.uk

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